Iron-bending machine



June 18, 1929. G. c. ROY 1,717,735

IRON BENDING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l I JNVENTOR ATTORNEY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 18, 1929. Q ROY IRON BENDING MACHINE Filed April 15, 1927 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES GEORGE C. ROY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IRON-BENDING MACHINE.

Application filed April 15, 1927. Serial No. 184,134.

This invention relates to bending machines and in particular to a type adapted to bend heavy sheet metal without the necessity of heating the same.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a machine in which very heavy plate metal may be bent without the use of exceeding high power, which requires complicated pressure building apparatus to sup- A still further particular ob ect of the 1nvention is to provide a machine employing the toggle principle for effectively bending cold sheet stock in any desired manner whereby time and labor will be saved and the resulting product be reduced in cost.

A still further particular object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character which employs few parts, which is sim'- ple of construction and which effectively carries out the Work for which it is designed.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of my invention that they may embody the same in the various modifications in structure and relation contemplated, adrawing depicting a preferred form has been annexed as a part of this disclosure and in such drawings, simlar reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which,

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing my improved metal bending machine, a piece of metal being shown therein in position to be operated upon by the die blocks.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the operating cylinder in cross section and showing the construction of the base of the machine.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken through the machine on the line 33 of Figure 1 and shows how the parts are assembled and how they carry on their work of bending the metal.

Figure 4 is a sectional viewtaken on the line 4:4' of Figure 3 showing the die carrier and method of suspending the same between the channel members which go to make up the base of the machine.

Figure 5 is a modified form of my invention, the same being shown in sectional elevation and illustrates how the cylinders may be suspended to decrease operating friction, and v Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the end of the frame shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates the machine supports which are disposed in spaced relation and upon which are arranged to rest the longitudinally extending channel members 6, there being a pair of these members, suitably spaced to accommodate the parts supported thereby. These channel members 6 constitute the bed of the machine and in transverse relation to the supporting members 5, I have employed additional supporting member 7 or members, if more than one isrequired, for the purpose of supporting the cylinder holding plate 8, which forms a part of the machine and is suitably secured to the member 7 at one end and if desired, to one of the channel members 6 at its opposite end as at 9. Although it will be understood that this opposite end 9 may be supported in any manner depending upon the height at which it is placed with regard to the diameter of the cylinder and the position thereof necessary in operating the machine. At one end of the bed, which as before explained, is composed of the channel members 6, it of course being understood that I-beams or any other suitable structural elements may be employed, I secure the anchor block 10 which has passing through the center thereof, the anchor bolt 11A, which at its lower end passes through and engages the horizontally disposed flange 11 or spacer of the end brace member 12, the latter being so arranged that it has a downwardly depending portion 13, which abuts against the ends of the channel 6 and at its upper end, receives the anchor block 10, so that when pressure is exerted on the toggle arms to carry on the work, the brace 12 will of course prevent movement of the anchor block from its position. The brace or standard 12 is provided also with side wing portions 14 which are suitably riveted as at 15 or otherwise secured to the inside surfaces of the channel members 6.

It is evident that by this construction, a solid anchor block is obtained against which force maybe exerted to advance the die blocks, which will be hereinafter described. The anchor block has pivoted to the corners there of, the toggle arms 16 and 17 the outer ends of the toggle arms 16 and 17, being also pivotally joined to the toggle arms 18 and 19 which are in turn pivoted as at 20 to the die carrier 21. Any suitable means may be used such, for instance, as a headed pin or bolt to pivotally secure the toggle arms to the die carrier and to the anchor'blocks. The arms 16 and 18 are pivoted together as at 22, the pivot pin 22 extending into a suitable toggle sleeve 23. This toggle sleeve being mounted on an extended portion 24 of the cylinder head 25, the end of the cylinder head extension 24 being provided with a suitable packing collar 26, which surrounds the operating shaft 27 and prevents leakage of the air, fluid or other operating element from the cylinder. It will be evident, therefore, that the arms 16 and 18 are pivoted together and are also pivoted with relation to the cylinder 28 and consequently any movement of the toggle arms 16 and 18 will result in a movement of the cylinder 28.

The shaft 27 extends transversely of the machine and carries at its outer end the toggle arm block 29 to which the toggle arms 17 and 19 are pivoted as at 30, the block 29 being suitably held in place through the medium of 'a nut 81 which has threaded connection with the end of the operating shaft 27. In order to provide for the efficient packing of the gland which is formed by the extended portion 24 of the cylinder head, I extend the horizontally disposed portion 32 of the packing collar 26 beyond the periphery of the toggle sleeve 23 and pass through the ends thereof the locking bolts 33, which at their inner ends pass through the cylinder head and are bolted into the cylinder flange 34, thus providing a good, firm connection between the cylinder and the toggle arms 16 and 18 respectively.

The cylinder, of course,is of the usual type, having end inlets 85 into which are threaded the air connections 86, these air connections being joined by the usual four-way valve 37, which operates to admit air into either end of the cylinder selectively from the source of supply which is conveyed to the four-way valve through the medium of the pipe 38, the exhaust being directly from the valve 37 at the point- 39 or being conveyed to some suitable point through the medium of the usual tubing. In this instance I find that air is the most elastic means for operating the machine and to that end, it will be evident that when air is admitted to the far end of the cylinder through the inlet 40, it will move the piston 41 which is suitably secured on the shaft 27 or piston rod, as it might also be termed, so that the toggle arms will operate. The end of the cylinder, of course, is closed with the usual cylinder head 42 and the cylinder itself, is mounted upon a truck 43 which is provided with any number of swivelled wheels 44 which allow the cylinder to have free movement on the table or plate 8 before referred to, as of course it is understood that the cylinder will have exactly the same movement as the pivot point 22 of the toggle arms 16 and 18. When air is admitted through the inlet 35, (see F igimparted to the die carrier by allowing the cylinder to have free movement as the air injected between the piston 41 and the end of the cylinder will impart a pushing movement in opposite direction which will force together the toggle arms, thus causing their longitudinal expansion and consequent workperforming movement.

In order to guide the die carrier in its movement, I have constructed the same as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, which contemplate the use of an inverted channel 45, which is arranged to fit between the longitudinal channels 6 and which has secured at its upper, outer edges, the angle members 47, these angle memb rs forming supports and having sliding movement on the upper edges of the channels 6. In order to secure the inverted chan- 1 nel 45 to the die carrier, I turn the end thereof up, as at 48 and through the medium of suitable bolts 49, effectively secure the same to the die carrier. It is evident, therefore, that the channel 45 guides the die carrier in its longitudinal movement and adds great strength and rigidity to the machine. The die carrier 21 on its front face, may be provided with an under-cut slot 50, which is arranged to receive a similarly shaped tongue 51 of the female die 52, it of course being understood that this die is slid out of the die carrier and may be replaced with any other shaped die, depending upon what shape it is desired to bend the piece of plate stock into. The male die 53 is positioned on the channels 6 in any suitable manner and may be held in place thereon through the medium of angle members 54, secured to the under side thereof in position to prevent sidewise movement of the die 53 when pressure is exerted thereagainst. This die 53 is held in spaced relation with the end brace 55 through the medium of any number of shims or filler pieces 56, which are disposed between the front face of the brace 55 and the'rear face of the die The brace 55 or end anvil, as it might be termed, is secured through the medium of extension 57 and bolt 58 to the ends of the channel frame members 6, so that pressure exerted by the die will be taken up and resisted by the anvil 55.

The piece of material to be bent is indicated as at 59 and it is evident that the pressure exerted by the cylinder on the shaft 27 will cause the drawing together of the pivot points 22 and of the toggle arms thereby causing advance of the die carrier and female die, which will act upon the metal 59 and will bend it to the shape to conform to the die.

It is evident, therefore, that I have pro vided a simplified machine whereby enormous energy can be exerted to bend into any desired shape plate stock or heavy sheet metal which has heretofore required heating before the efficient bending thereof could take place without damage or weakening of the material.

in order to more effectively operate and to provide a greater operating force, I may make use of a modified form of machine which em ploys a double cylinder, the construction being identical to that shown in Figure l with the exception that the arms 17 and 19 of the toggle members are joined to an additional cylinder through the medium of the toggle sleeves G1 and bolt 62, the arms 16 and 18 being joined to their respective parts 62, 63 in like manner, the cylinders being arranged to be suspended so that the shaft 64 carried by the pistons 65 within the cylinders will, in con junction with the cylinders, and toggle arms cooperate to produce the greatest pressure with the least operating friction and in order to bring about this result, I have provided adjacent the end of the machine, a frame 66 which consists of the upright 67, cross pieces 68 and transversely extending members 69 on the on or ends of the latter of which are supported the journal blocks 70 in which revolves shaf 1s 71 carrying at their centers and in alignment with the cylinders, the pulleys 71ii, over which pass the cables 72, the cables being joined by a suitable plate 73 to which is secured the counterweight 74, the counterweight being disposed centrally of the frame and in position to counterbalance the two cylinders 60 and 63 which are connected to the cables 72 through the medium of eyes 73, the eyes being screwed into suitable bosses 1' formed on the upper surface of said cylinders.

In order to operate in this instance, the inlet for the air 75 is connected to the four-way valve 76 in the usual manner and the latter is in turn connected at one of its outlets to the nice 77 which connects the inne" ends of the l l 1 cylinders and permits air to be fed into the inner ends of each of the cylinders simultaneously, the pipe line 78 connecting the outer ends of the cylinders in the same manner and each of the pipe lines 77 and 78 being connected to theirrespective cylinders through the medium of suitable, flexible air piping 79 so that free movement of the cylinder is pos sible during the operation of the toggles, it of course being understood that both cylinders will. have substantially the same movement as the bolt 63 or pivot pins which connect the toggle arms together at the toggle sleeves 61.

It is evident, therefore, that I have pro vided an improved metal bending machine which contemplates the use of air pressure or other pressure imparting media which will exert an enormous bending pressure to metal of plate variety and of very thick gauge, which has heretofore been bent in a number of operations after the same' has been suitably heated.

It is also evident that I have provided a machine which may be operated vertically or horizontally and while I have not illustrated any vertical type of machine, it is evident that with slightalterat-ion, either of the machines shown in Figure 1 or Figure 5 can be adapted for use in a vertical position.

It is evident also that I have provided a machine of simple construction which will exert an enormous energy, which will efiecti ily bend plates, bars or other material without the necessity of heating the same.

While I have illustrated and described my invention with some degree of particularity, I realize that in practice various alterations therein may be made. I therefore reserve the right and privilege of changing the form of the details of constr ction or otherwise altering the arrangement of the correlated parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is 1. A metal bending machine comprising a bed, a die anvil fixed at one end of the bed, a block fixed to the opposite end of the bed, a

die carrier operable longitudinally of the bed,

toggle arms connecting the block and the carrier, a piston rod, a cylinder. for operating the piston rod, means for connecting the pivot point of some of the arms to the piston rod and means for connecting the pivot point of the other arms to the cylinder whereby a movement of the rod will move the arm to anvance said die carrier.

2. A metal bending machine comprising a bed, a die carrier slidablo therealong, means for guiding the carrier on said bed, an anvil fixed to one end of the bed, a fixed die adja-' cent thereto, means for adjustably spacing the fixed die from the anvil, a block at the opposite end of the bed, a toggle arm arrangement connecting the block and the die carrier, a piston roe, a cylinder for operating the piston rod, means for connecting the pivot point of some of the toggle arms to the rod, and means for connecting the pivot point of the other arms to the cylinder whereby a movement of the piston rod will move the arms to operate said die carrier.

3. A netal bending machine comprising a bed, a die carrier slidable therealong, means for guiding the carrier on said bed, a removable die in the carrier, an anvil fixed to one end of the oed, a die against the anvil, toggle arms for advancing the die carrier, a piston rod for operating said toggle arms, means for operating the piston rod and means for supporting said operating means so that the same can partake of the movements of one of the pivot points of said toggle arms.

at. A metal bending machine comprising a bed, anchor members at the ends thereof, a fixed die adjacent one of said anchor members, toggle arms secured at one of their ends to the otheranchor member, a die carrier connected to the other end of the toggle arms, a cylinder, a piston rod therefor, to the latter of which, one side of the toggle arm arrangement is connected, the opposite side beingpivotally connected to the cylinder, means for supporting the cylinder so that it can partake of the movement of the pivotal connecting point of the toggle arms with the'cylinder, and means for causing operation of the piston longitudinally of said cylinder.

5. A metal bending machine comprising a bed, a die carrier slidable therealong, means for guiding the carrier on said bed, a removable die in the carrier, an anvil fixed to one end of the bed, a fixed die adjacent thereto, toggle arms for advancing said die carrier, a piston rod for operating said toggle arms, cylinders for operating the piston rod, and a counterweight supporting said cylinders freely so that the same can partake of the movement of the pivot points of said toggle arms.

6. A metal bending machine comprising a bed, a die carrier, means for guiding the carrier, a removable die in the carrier, an anvil fixed to the bed, a fixed die adjacent thereto, toggle arms for advancing said die carrier, a

piston rod for operating said toggle arms,

cylinders for operating the piston rod, and a counterweight supporting said cylinder freely so that the same can partake of the movement of the pivot points of said toggle arms.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE o. ROY. [1 s] 

